“Marge carries the entree to the table: It’s fish. Three-eyed. Monty reluctantly hands over his plate, and Marge serves him the head. Burns reluctantly takes a forkful, chews, then spits it out. The piece of fish flies across the room. Cameras flash furiously, and the media leave, all before the fish hits the floor. Within minutes, word is out, and Monty’s campaign is ruined.”

But DYN that the answer always turns out to be The Third One From The Left? It’s uncanny. This method works on all the ads. Check and you’ll see.

As seen on practically every MUNI bus in all Christendom:

Click to expand

(Sometimes when you ask a silly question, you’ll get a silly answer, huh? I could think of a few, how do you say, more nuanced approaches than the one used, but nobody asked me so there you go.)

Anyway, more seriously, let’s get a second opinion from Dr. Steven Suydam, who seems impressed with this campaign:

“Screening is only the first step. Those who perform the screening need to take steps to ensure that those who test negative subsequently receive the vaccine, and that those who test positive receive hepatitis titers (levels) and annual liver ultrasound exams.”

But of course, the first step is raising awareness among the general population as well as medical professionals. (And, bonus, now I know what those Superman-style blue and red t-shirts are for. Until today I thought I the giant “B” was San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty’s logo – “Super Bevan” or something. Srlsy.)

There aren’t many things from the 1960’s that work as well as they day they were made.

When will this person-hole cover near Divisidero wear out?

Born: October 2, 1969. See that, no fudging of the birthdate, it’s right there, for All to see. How refreshing! (The fact is that if you we’re born in 1970 or thereabouts, you’re middle-aged – welcome to the club.)

Our SenatorLeland Yee, Ph.D. is today calling for support for his Clean Needle Bill, SB 1029. It would permit all California pharmacists to sell up to 30 sterile syringes to drug users aged 18 and over. Why? To prevent the spread of HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases that live in used syringes.

All the deets of today’s presser with Mark Cloutier, CEO of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Barry Zevin, MD, a San Francisco primary care and HIV clinician, below.

Today, State Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) was joined by doctors, pharmacists, and AIDS prevention advocates to introduce legislation that would allow pharmacies throughout California the discretion to sell up to 30 sterile syringes to an adult without a prescription.

California is one of only three states that still prohibit pharmacists from selling a syringe without a prescription. Most states amended their laws in light of evidence that criminalized access to sterile syringes led drug users to share used ones, and that sharing syringes spread HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and other blood-borne diseases that can live in a used syringe.

“This is an effective public health measure which is proven to reduce health care costs to taxpayers,” said Yee. “It’s a moral, as well as fiscal imperative.”

“Access to sterile syringes is a vital component of a comprehensive strategy to combat HIV and hepatitis,” said Yee. “This approach has been evaluated extensively throughout the world and has been found to significantly reduce rates of HIV and hepatitis without contributing to any increase in drug use, drug injection, crime or unsafe discard of syringes.”

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) signed legislation in 2004 to create a five-year pilot to evaluate the safety and efficacy of allowing adults to purchase and possess a limited number of syringes for personal use. Under the pilot program pharmacies in Los Angeles County, the Bay Area and some other parts of the state have been allowed to sell syringes.

Yee’s SB 1029 would remove the sunset and allow all pharmacists throughout the state with the discretion to sell sterile syringes without a prescription.

Sharing of used syringes is the most common cause of new hepatitis C infections in California and the second most common cause of HIV infections. The state Department of Public Health estimates that approximately 3,000 California residents contract hepatitis C through syringe sharing every year and another 750 cases of HIV are caused by syringe sharing.

These diseases are costly and potentially deadly. Hospitalizations for hepatitis B and hepatitis C cost the state $2 billion in 2007, according to a report by the California Research Bureau. The lifetime cost of treating hepatitis C is approximately $100,000, unless a liver transplant is required, and then the cost exceeds $300,000 per surgery. The lifetime cost of treating HIV/AIDS is now estimated to exceed $600,000 per patient.

By comparison, a syringe costs about ten to fifteen cents retail. The bill requires no appropriation of state funds, because it allows adults to buy syringes at their own expense.

Among health policy researchers speaking in favor of SB 1029, Alex Kral, an epidemiologist who has supervised several studies of HIV prevention said, “In light of over 200 studies worldwide that establish improved syringe access means less disease with no downside, to continue a policy of making syringe sales illegal would amount to health policy malpractice.”

The 200 studies Kral referred to were reviewed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008. WHO concluded that the overwhelming scientific consensus showed improved syringe access reduced rates of HIV and hepatitis without contributing to drug use, crime or unsafe discard of syringes.

“There is not one credible study from anywhere in the world that refutes these findings,” Kral said.

Among the numerous studies cited was one published in the American Journal of Public Health from 2001 that compared US cities that allowed pharmacists to sell syringes to adults without a prescription and those that did not. The study found that the rate of HIV among drug injectors was twice as high in cities that forbid sale without a prescription than those cities that allowed pharmacists greater flexibility to provide syringes.

“This approach has been overwhelmingly supported by the health professions,” said Yee. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature, the Governor and the California Department of Public Health to craft the most efficient and cost-effective means of saving lives and public dollars by preventing HIV and hepatitis C.”

Here’s the thing – if you’re renting a place in San Francisco and you’re paying your monthly rent to your roommate, chances are that you could be considered a subtenant and your roomy the “Master Tenant.”* Particularly when the rent for your unit is way undermarket, due to rent control let’s say, you might end up spending more for your space than the Master pays for the Master’s part of the apartment.

“A subtenant who believes he or she is paying more than a proportional share of the total rent may file a Tenant Petition against the master tenant on that basis. If the subtenant prevails, the Administrative Law Judge will adjust the rent to the proportional share and order the master tenant to refund any rent overpayments.”

Your San Francisco Rent Board just dealt with a subtenant/Master Tenant proportionality case. The names of the people involved aren’t important, but the situation is noteworthy, IMO. Let’s check it out.

Now, if you don’t like how the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) dealt with your case with your roomie, you can appeal to the board. As here, from the meeting of August 4, 2009:

“The subtenant’s petition alleging that he paid a disproportional share of the rent pursuant to Rules ß6.15C(3) was granted and the Master Tenant was found liable to the subtenant in the amount of $10,800.00. On appeal, the Master Tenant alleges that he was unaware of the requirement that the amount of rent paid must be proportional; that the decision will present him with a financial hardship; and that the subtenant is going to be evicted due to his uncooperative behavior.

MSC: To deny the appeal on substantive grounds but remand the case for a hearing on the Master Tenant’s claim of financial hardship. (Gruber/Crow: 5-0)”

See? The sub won big-time, to the tune of five figures because the rent split determined by the Master Tenant wasn’t proportional according to a judge and the full board.

“The subtenant’s petition alleging that he paid a disproportionate share of the rent was granted and the Master Tenant was found liable to the subtenant in the amount of $10,800.00. The Master Tenant’s hardship appeal was granted and remanded for hearing. In the remand decision, the ALJ finds sufficient hardship to order a repayment plan in the amount of $150.00 per month. The Master Tenant again appeals, claiming that even the reduced amount will cause him severe hardship and possibly result in both tenants’ eviction from the premises.

MSC: To deny the appeal. (Mosbrucker/Gruber: 5-0)”

Is this what you might call a Phyric victory? Maybe. It’s probably too early to tell. Oh well.

Of course it doesn’t matter if not-ready-for-primetime Deborah Perez is “crazy” or not – if she has all this evidence proving the identity of the Zodiac Killer then it will be useful for her to turn it over to the San Francisco Police Department. So here’s the news, the SFPD is amenable to spending a little time hearing her story. Is that surprising? Not really, but read on to see the latest Press Release.

Artist’s conception of Lil Debby Perez at the scene of the Berryessa slaying:

Investigative Reporter/Journalist Larry Garrison Comes Forward to Support the Evidence that Guy Hendrickson is the Zodiac Killer

“Support the Evidence.” What?

For the first time in twenty-five years, the San Francisco Police Department will call in a key potential witness for questioning to identify the Zodiac Killer officially.

All right.

Deborah Perez has been called in by Lt. Michael Staskos (badge No. 724) of the SFPD Homicide Unit.

All right.

Date to appear is June 17, 2009.

All right.

She will be questioned about her father, Guy Ward Hendrickson.

All right.

The nation’s top forensic experts have endorsed her handwriting, psychological, and DNA evidence showing participation in the Zodiac Killings.

Oh no they didn’t!

Her evidence was recently turned over to Lt. Staskos SFPD.

All right.

Deborah Perez was seven years old at the time she became his innocent sidekick.

Oh no she wasn’t!

Deborah became aware of her father’s involvement in the Zodiac murders years later after viewing a segment of “America’s Most Wanted” composite that resembled her father.

But what if Guy Ward Hendrickson isn’t the Zodiac?

On April 29th, she came forward with a press conference at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Really? At the Chronicle? Ha ha ha ha ha! How about on the sidewalk near the Chronicle?

The glasses which she handed over to Lt. Michael Staskos on May 5th, currently held in evidence by SFPD, will be part of the DNA proof needed.

How do you know that?

Deborah Perez feels she “…owes it to the families of the victims to put this case to rest.”

All right.

Though others have come forward, no one has been able to substantiate a claim as Deborah has achieved with eye witness testimony, forensic and DNA evidence.

DNA evidence? Really? Deborah is so unique and special, a bunch of old white guys should make a movie about her, or something.

She is also the only witness ever endorsed by members of famed attorney Melvin M. Belli, who the Zodiac contacted.

“Members of famed attorney Melvin M. Belli” Really? “Endorsed.” What? Wasn’t Melvin Belli kind of a hack? I know an attorney – he used to work for/withMelvin Belli back in the 1990’s, had to sue to get paid the salary he was owed.Does this experience qualify him to divine the Zodiac?

The Belli group has requested the Zodiac Killer/Melvin Belli Files which SFPD has in possession for 40 years.

The “Belli Group”? Is that a law firm?

Larry Garrison, President of SilverCreek Entertainment, and Investigative Reporter/Journalist, has just come on board to support Deborah Perez.

Well, Katie bar the door! Mr. Garrison? Really?

After his own investigations, Garrison verified the evidence including handwriting analysis reports of Perez with professionals.

No he didn’t!

Garrison has been shown that “Deborah, in fact, wrote those Zodiac letters and her DNA will be on at least one of the envelopes.”

Nice passive voice there!

Attorneys from the Belli office have also confirmed that Deborah was in fact the child who accompanied her father, Guy Ward Hendrickson, to Mr. Melvin Belli’s office.

Attorneys? Former attorneys? Disbarredattorneys? Well, gee, if an attorney believes something, it MUST be true!

Larry Garrison states, “The proof will be in the forensic evidence and DNA once Deborah has her chance to have it analyzed.”

Oh, poor Little Debby! Was she too busy signing movie deals to actually turn over her “evidence” in 2007?

The problem is that Guy Ward Hendrickson died in 1983, but not before he conveniently passed along a deathbed confession. Oddly, daughter Deborah, a “mother and a professional,” said she didn’t realize her dad was the Zodiac until watching America’s Most Wanted in 2007.

Was Guy Ward Hendrickson in the military, maybe based in the East Bay close to the scene of killing? Maybe, but nobody knows for sure. Was Guy Ward Hendrickson a peace officer? Maybe, but nobody knows for sure.

The crew today continues work on their documentary. They’d like help from the FBI and other police agencies. This news conference was a way to get more attention for the new theory. Apparently, some guy not too far from Sacramento, Denis Kaufman, is alleging things having to do with handwriting analysis and that causes consternation to the people organizing the news conference today. All this adds up to… ?

Attention Zodiac theorists! Don’t worry about what other people are doing. If you have physical evidence, turn it over to the authoritahs. It’s not really necessary to make a documentary, however therapeutic it may be, right? (Lot’s of luck to anyone from Edward Lozzi & Associates public relations trying to gather a crowd in the 415 anytime soon. You’ll need it.)

Was Guy Hendrickson the Zodiac? Maybe yes and maybe no. That was true yesterday and that’s still true today.

Now about those glasses. Here are the ones Deborah claims to be from taxi driver Paul Stine…

LOS ANGELES – Responding to a whistleblower’s allegation of “massive Medi-Cal fraud and kickbacks,” Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. joined legal action against seven private laboratories to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal overcharges to the state’s medical program for the poor.

“In the face of declining state revenues, these medical laboratories have siphoned off hundreds of millions of dollars from programs intended for the most vulnerable California families.” Attorney General Brown said. “Such a pattern of massive Medi-Cal fraud and kickbacks cannot be tolerated, and I will take every action the law allows to recover what is owed,” Brown added.

According to whistleblower Chris Riedel, the CEO of Hunter Laboratories, “I confirmed with the California Department of Health Care Services that these practices were illegal. We then had a choice–either join the other labs in violating the law or be unable to compete for business. We choose to suffer the financial consequence, and follow the law.”

The lawsuit, which is pending in San Mateo Superior Court, contends that the 7 medical labs systematically overcharged the Medi-Cal program over the past 15 years.